FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:   Elissa Ruffino (NIAF) 202/939-3106 or elissa@niaf.org

EVENT: NIAF 2004 GALA CONVENTION CONFERENCES

WHERE: The Hilton Washington & Towers, 1919 Connecticut Ave. NW

NIAF will host its 29th Anniversary Awards Gala on Saturday, October 16 at The Hilton Washington & Towers. The gala caps off the Foundation’s two-day convention (October 15 & 16) which includes the following conferences. All conferences are free and open to the public.

Friday, October 15, 2004
– Discovering Italy Through its Food and Wines, presented by Italy Italy Magazine, Lincoln West, 9:30 AM – Noon
– Children of the Greats, candid conversations with some of the most famous Italian Americans, Georgetown Room, 10:30 AM – Noon
– Luncheon Featuring Truffles of Italy, from the town Acqualagna, region of the Marches, NIAF Teacher of the Year presentation, Int’l Ballroom East, Noon – 2:30 PM Cost:$50.00
– Improve Your Italian Language ‘vocabolario’ the fun and effective way,, Lincoln-West, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
– Italian Americans and the 2004 Presidential Election, with panelists Richard Benedetto, Christopher Caldwell, Andrew Glass, Robert Novak and John Podesta, Georgetown Room, 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
– Fiera Milano – MiWine Wine Tasting, Ballroom West, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Saturday, October 16, 2004
– Youth Networking Breakfast, Conservatory, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM NIAF Council 2000 Continental Breakfast with espresso and cappuccino, Georgetown Room, 9:00 AM -11:00 AM (Open to current and prospective members)
– Celebrity Auction and Luncheon, Int’l Ballroom-Center, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Cost: $55.00
– Milestones of the Italian American Experience with speakers Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, Jefferson Room, 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit organization based in Washington, DC and dedicated to preserving the heritage of Italian Americans. Visit www.niaf.org